Cherise’s Story – Fluoroquinolone Toxicity, Faith, and Healing

I was prescribed ciploxx 500 x2 a day which is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic along with NSAIDS for a suspected UTI.
I asked the Dr whether it was really necessary and whether is was safe and got a definite YES on both.No potential side effects was mentioned. I usually read all leaflets before taking any drugs, and I have not used many antibiotics before as I have always been relatively healthy. This time I did not read the leaflet as I did not want to imagine any symptoms (and I already had the reassurance from the Dr that this drug was safe)… little did I know.

I proceeded to drink my first pill. That night I started having severe nightmares (for the first time in my life) after initially not being able to sleep. I also experienced a racing mind. I did not connect the dots. I proceeded to drink another pill that morning and during the day started having additional symptoms such as burning throat, pulsing heartrate visible in my neck, itchy skin with a petechial rash and bulging veins (amongst other symptoms). I still did not think much of it as I was wondering whether is was connected to my suspected uti. I took my 3rd pill. That night I had insomnia once more accompanied with horrible nightmares and hallucinations when I did manage to sleep (and feeling as if I was living in a paralel universe or alternate reality.) It was as if I was standing outside my own body looking in. The next day I took my 4th and final pill. All my symptoms accumulated and I got a very very severe headache. I never struggle with headaches. I THEN thought about what had changed in the last few days and I knew that the only thing had been the antibiotic. I decided to check the antibiotic leaflet and got the shock of my life. What I was reading there scared the caboozles out of me as I was suddenly realizing where all the weird symptoms were coming from. Some other symptoms I also experienced in this time (and months after) was… struggling to comprehend, not being able to focus or read properly, a feeling of detachment, eye issues, my joints were stiff and felt as if they were snapping from my body, plantar fasciitis. My body was achy and sore all over, allergies to foods (histamine reaction), severe weightloss, very slow heartrate, tinnitus. Also lady troubles and candida (all new to me) .

How long did it take me to feel better:
I started feeling a little better 3months post floxx and a lot better arround 6 months after floxxing. My lady problems got better at the 6 month mark (after introducing iodine.) I am now 8 months out and feel around 90% better.
I do realise this does not mean I am completely well yet an still have some lingering complaints. But I am celebrating each day as a gift!

What keeps me going:
☆MY FAITH!!! THE LORD helped me through this, my faith grew tenfold and if it was not for prayer and faith I would not have made it through. The church in my new town and prayer played a big role… this whole debacle got my family back in church.
I also found help in the book A purpose driven life by Pastor Rck Warren.
I love the group Christian floxxies on fb as it is there that I get awesome support from fellow floxxed Christians. And I can also help by reaching out to fellow floxxed friends.. and serve a purpose in their journey.

What good came out of this:
☆I grew in faith and returned to the church, formed a bible study group. And my testimomy has inspired some of my friends to reach out to me in times of tribulation.
☆I discovered my entire family was NEVER going to be taking FQ drugs!!! This already helped my mom… She took 1(with a different name) when prescribed.. started feeling very strange and I realised what was happening.I also supported my friend when she was going through this.
☆I realized how quickly life changes and I am using this to try and make a difference.. this also taught me to have more sympathy for chronically ill people!!

☆I am stronger!!!

Advice for newbeeee floxies☆☆☆
You’re not crazy.. this is real and its bad! Cling to your faith, stay calm, spend time in nature if possible, investigate diet, supplements and find a DR that wants to walk this journey with you, reach out to others… you are not alone! Its a personal path and what works for others might not work for you! Every day might not be all good but there is something good in every day!

Thank you to my mother in law for continuously sponsoring sooooo many of my supplements this has been a very expensive and draining process and without this help I would not have made it through. I am so blesses with great family!

September 2019 update – Here I am almost 20 months out and I am feeling 100% better. I have healed so so much over the last couple of months. I feel wonderful and my symptoms have subsided. Diet have played a HUGE part in healing. FAITH carried me through all the way. My faith have grown ten fold. Not because I am healthy.. nope. Because of the process I went through. I have grown as a person and I have grown as a Christian. I now help Admin the Christian Floxies page for Christian harmed by Fluoroquinolones. I eat a very very clean anti-inflammatory diet which I have learned is something different and unique for each person. I have started exercising again and even started Ice skating. I have written an exam recently which I passed with flying colours! The thing that has taken the longest to heal is my memory. It is a lot better now but definitely still healing. I am seeing great progress though! Well I just popped by to say KEEP THE FAITH fellow floxies. I have been floxed but I will not be a floxie forever. Remember that our minds are extremely powerful and that healing will never ever even be an option if we don’t utilize the power of our minds. Keep believing and keep working at it. Health is priceless!

** The story above is truthful, accurate and told to the best of the ability of the writer. It is not intended as medical advice. No person who submits his or her story, nor the people associated with Floxie Hope, diagnoses or treats any illness. The story above should not be substituted for professionally provided medical advice. Please consult your doctor before trying anything that has been mentioned in this story, or in any other story on this site. Please also note that people have varying responses to the treatments mentioned in each story. What helps one person may not help, and may even hurt, another person. It is important that you understand that supplements, IVs, essential oils, and all other treatments, affect people differently depending on the millions of variables that make each of us unique. Please use appropriate caution and prudence, and get professional medical advice.

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Hi Cherise. Thank you for your story. I have been floxed for 7 months now and am finding my faith is paradoxically being challenged and strengthened through this. Like you, my church community has been a great support (as have my wife, children and other family members). I have had little improvement during this time and am having to continually reduce my work hours (I am a high school teacher), so am having to learn to be patient and trust God.

Hi Kim
Thanks for getting in touch. I sooo agree. Faih challenged = growth… its when we go through our darkest times that we grow the most. I really found help in working through the book A purpose driven life. In there its also discussed how our time here on earth will not be easy however our tough times create fruits of the Spirit. Life is just character-school for real life in heaven one day!! Take care and I hope you also see improvements soon! One teacher to another 🙂

I am curious about what you describe as ” lady problems”. One of the symptoms I have put down to floxing is a worsening of fibrocystic pain in the breasts. I have never come across any other female floxie describing this. I have found iodine helpful for this . Did you suffer from this?

CheriseSeptember 14, 2018 at 10:38 am

Hi
It totaaly murdered my menstrual cycle. It started getting wonky the month after floxxing… and then compelety dissapeared. It only returned after introducing iodine and its a normal cycle again now. I went to the gynk and I had Fibriods in my uteris all of a sudden 1 month after floxxing. 😦 Never had that before. Maybe the same mechanism as your fibrocystic breasts.

CheriseSeptember 14, 2018 at 10:39 am

Hi
It totally murdered my menstrual cycle. It started getting wonky the month after floxxing… and then compelety dissapeared. It only returned after introducing iodine and its a normal cycle again now. I went to the gyno and I had Fibroids in my uteris all of a sudden 1 month after floxxing. 😦 Never had that before. Maybe the same mechanism as your fibrocystic breasts.

Cherise, congrats on your recovery! It is always good to read a new recovery story to keep hope alive that we all have a chance to recover!! Was just wondering about any remaining symptoms? Did your tinnitus go away? Did you have a lot of trouble with insomnia and anxiety? If so was there anything that you felt helped the most with those symptoms?? I am 14 months out and a lot better but still struggling with extremely early wakeup with anxiety and some stomach issues which are mostly all occurring early in the morning. Just wondering if sleep and tinnitus are better for you??

CheriseSeptember 14, 2018 at 10:47 am

Hi xxx
There is always hope!! My tinnitus come and go… its the worst at night and one ear is more affected than the other. I have noticed that its definitelly influenced by diet too. And salicalytes seem to play a part in this. Stomach issues I helped with clean diet, betaine hcl and also digestive enzymes. I only had anxiety when I was on the medication itself. Xxx I hope you find your trigger and can adress that. I am also very aware that my stress levels regarding what was happening to me calmed down the most when I decided to LET GO and LET GOD. Fighting the feeling of fear with the Word. On my knees I am on my feet. Keep the faith. Surround yourself with positivity. You too can heal!!

Hi I have been on ciploxx numerous times and could not understand why I am feeling so I’ll, numbness in my face bad pain right side of my head, lately my right leg/foot is stupid, bad allergies, heart problems, nerves shot. I’m so angry!!!!

For sure, I believe the Lord will carry us through. I have been using Omega 3 vitamin D3 vitamins B12 and folic acid, chai seeds and of cause celestamine for my bad allergy . Has anyone got bad allergy from being floxed?